CNA Training: Respecting Patient Personality Types

CNA Training and How to Relate to Personality Types

After you complete your CNA training and begin working in the medical field, you will most likely come into contact with many different types of patients. They will each have their own unique personality, and you will have to learn how to respect and deal with each one. Your CNA training may or may not have prepared you for individual personalities.

There are four commonly accepted personality types:

Melancholic

Sanguine

Choleric

Phlegmatic

What does this have to do with your certified nursing assistant training? When you understand each type of personality, you will be better equipped to encourage independent behavior and obtain a better relationship with your patients after CNA training.

Understanding Patient Personalities After CNA Training

Melancholic- Patients who are melancholic are generally caring. They know the rules, follow them, and do so with the best manners. They are very detailed and orderly, which can cause them to worry often and quickly become overwhelmed. They may often be suspicious of you and the care you provide and have unrealistic expectations about their diagnosis and treatment. Adding this information to your CNA training can help you properly handle this type of patient.

Respecting this personality type means maintaining the order and quality of the patient’s care, which, of course was taught in your CNA training. These individuals do not like changes in their routine, so you must make sure to alert them to any changes in care as quickly as possible.

Choleric- Choleric patients are all about the facts. They don’t want to spend fifteen minutes chatting with you about the next football game while you change their bed; they want to discuss their treatment and diagnosis at length. While this controlling and highly independent attitude may be a little tough for some to handle after CNA training, if you understand this personality, it will be much easier.

Phlegmatic- These patients can adapt to almost any circumstance. They are very rational and don’t like to cause conflict or drama. If given the chance to come up with a positive solution for their care, they are often very logical and practical, but will many times up come up with solutions that would cause the least disruption and tension among others. They are great listeners and will most likely discuss anything, as long as you approach them calmly and rationally. Create an environment that will be accepting of any answer they give if you truly want them to be honest with you.

Sanguine- Perhaps the most optimistic and fun personality types, these individuals are able to see the glass half full in almost any situation. They may be loud, but they are great at socializing and enjoying the company of individuals. These patients have a hard time sometimes facing the realities of their medical conditions. They like to focus on what is happening now, not what will happen in the future. Using this information in addition to your CNA training can help you keep a good attitude and help the Sanguine to thrive and enjoy their life, even if they have physical limitations.

After CNA training, it is important to understand the personality types you will come across in your line of work. This will help you respect and understand your patients.

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